United Super Markets

What United Super Markets does

United Super Markets Holdings Inc. (U.S.M.H) is a Tokyo Stock Exchange-listed joint holding company (ticker 3222) that consolidates four supermarket chains operating in the Greater Tokyo (Kanto) region of Japan: Maruetsu (マルエツ, 312 stores), Kasumi (カスミ, 199 stores), Inageya (いなげや, 129 stores), and AEON Food Style (イオンフードスタイル, 123 stores), totaling 763 stores across 7 prefectures as of June 29, 2026. The company was formed in 2015 via stock transfer under AEON Co., Ltd. and Marubeni sponsorship, and serves individual mass-market consumers with groceries, fresh produce, prepared foods, and household goods through both physical retail and digital channels. Its revenue model is transaction-based retail sales across the four subsidiary chains, supplemented by exclusive private-brand offerings (eatime, launched October 2017, for curated gourmet foods; Green Growers, featuring hydroponic plant-factory lettuce and BEYOND MEAT plant-based products).

U.S.M.H's technology stack centers on the proprietary ignica platform, which powers Scan & Go mobile self-checkout, online grocery delivery (od.ignica.com), and the U.S.M.H official mobile application developed jointly with Fujitsu (piloted June 2019, launched October 2019). An autonomous mobile AI robot, built with Nihon Unisys, has been deployed at the Kinshicho Kasumi store since November 2018 for overnight price-tag verification, representing a narrow but real AI footprint. The company also maintains ISO 22000 (Maruetsu fresh meat/seafood processing) and ISO 9001 (Maruetsu and Rose Corporation prepared foods) certifications, plus a sustainability-linked loan with Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank tied to 17 CO2 and food-waste KPIs.

The go-to-market motion is direct-to-consumer through physical retail dominance in Kanto, cross-brand format differentiation (large supermarket, medium, small プチ convenience-style, and specialty formats), and AEON-ecosystem integration including AEON Pay payment processing and WAON POINT loyalty promotions. Private-brand and digital-channel investments function as both margin levers and traffic drivers within the existing physical-store footprint; expansion has so far stayed inside the Kanto region rather than extending to new geographies.

Name

United Super Markets

Legal name

ユナイテッド・スーパーマーケット・ホールディングス株式会社

Website

https://usmh.co.jp

Company type

Public

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

United Super Markets Holdings (U.S.M.H) is a Tokyo-listed joint holding company that operates 763 supermarkets across Japan's Kanto region through four brands — Maruetsu, Kasumi, Inageya, and AEON Food Style — serving individual consumers with groceries, private brands, and digital retail services under the AEON Group umbrella.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Supermarket / Grocery Retail

NAICS

Supermarkets and Other Grocery Retailers (except Convenience Retailers) (44511), Supermarkets and Other Grocery Retailers (except Convenience Retailers) (445110)

SIC

Retail-Grocery Stores (5411)

akta.pro primary industry

Full-Line Supermarkets (National/Regional Chains) (CRAHAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Online Specialty Grocery (Organic/Health/Ethnic/Gourmet) (CRAHAIAE)

Keywords

• Supermarket retail
• Grocery store operations
• Private brand products
• Online grocery delivery
• Kanto regional grocery

Headquarters

HQ city

Tokyo

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Retail supermarket sales: U.S.M.H operates 763 physical supermarket stores across the Kanto region through four subsidiary brands (マルエツ 312 stores, カスミ 199 stores, いなげや 129 stores, イオンフードスタイル 123 stores), generating revenue through direct in-store consumer sales of food and daily necessities. The group also offers private brand products (eatime, Green Growers) exclusively through its stores.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

United Super Markets Holdings Inc. (U.S.M.H) operates a multi-brand supermarket network of 763 physical grocery stores across the Kanto region through four subsidiary brands (Maruetsu, Kasumi, Inageya, and AEON Food Style). The group sells fresh food, groceries, and daily necessities directly to consumers through physical stores, and complements this with private brand products (eatime and Green Growers), online delivery, and mobile self-checkout (Scan & Go) via the ignica digital platform.

Product overview

United Super Markets Holdings is a joint holding company for four supermarket chains in the Greater Tokyo area: マルエツ (312 stores), カスミ (199 stores), いなげや (129 stores), and イオンフードスタイル (123 stores), totaling 763 stores as of June 2026. The group's offerings span physical retail operations and digital services. Physical retail includes private brand products: the eatime (イータイム) curated food brand covering ice cream, sweets, noodles, and prepared foods; the eatime chef meal kit sub-brand; and the Green Growers sustainable brand featuring plant-factory lettuce, Beyond Meat products, and frozen deli items. Digital services are delivered through the ignica (イグニカ) platform powering Scan＆Go self-checkout, Online Delivery, and the U.S.M.H official mobile app. The group also operates KASUMI LABO as an innovation concept store and has deployed AI autonomous robots for in-store shelf verification.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• eatime: Private brand offering high-quality products at affordable prices, focusing on regional food culture and gourmet items
• Green Growers

Products and services

• eatime Private Brand U.S.M.H group private brand offering high-quality, affordable food products including ice cream, Japanese sweets, Western-style items, noodles, curry roux, and condiments. Positioned as a curated gourmet brand sold exclusively within the group's stores.
• eatime chef Meal Kits Meal kit series under the eatime brand offering chef-quality home-cooked meals with quick preparation, marketed as delivering 'chef気分' (chef feeling) at home.
• Green Growers Private Brand Sustainability-focused private brand including plant-factory lettuce (grown hydroponically at THE TERRABASE Tsuchiura), Beyond Meat plant-based protein products, and frozen deli items. Jointly developed with Plantekx Inc. for lettuce and Orbis Co., Ltd. for Inner Color Deli.
• ignica Digital Service Platform Mobile application platform powering digital services for U.S.M.H group including Scan & Go (self-checkout), Online Delivery, and the official mobile app.
• Scan & Go Mobile Self-Checkout Self-checkout mobile service allowing customers to scan items using their smartphones. Integrated into the ignica platform.
• Online Grocery Delivery Online grocery delivery service accessible via the ignica platform, enabling home delivery of supermarket products from U.S.M.H group stores.
• U.S.M.H Official Mobile Application Official group mobile application providing digital services to customers including store navigation and shopping features. Developed jointly with Fujitsu Limited.
• KASUMI LABO Concept Store Kasumi brand innovation lab and concept store serving as a test bed for new services including the official mobile app.
• Maruetsu Supermarket Chain Primary supermarket chain brand with 312 stores (as of June 2026), the largest member of U.S.M.H group operating in the Greater Tokyo area under formats including Maruetsu, Maruetsu Petit, and Rinkos.
• Kasumi Supermarket Chain Regional supermarket chain with 199 stores (as of June 2026). Concentrated in Ibaraki Prefecture and Greater Tokyo, operating under formats including Food Square Kasumi, FOOD OFF Stockers, and BLONDE.
• Inageya Supermarket Chain Regional supermarket chain with 129 stores (as of June 2026). Member of U.S.M.H group operating in Kanto region under formats including ina21 and blooming bloomy.
• AEON Food Style Supermarket Chain AEON-branded supermarket format with 123 stores (as of June 2026), including MaxValu, Daiei, Gourmet City, and Peacock Store formats. First large-format FoodStyle store opened in Funabori, Tokyo in June 2026.

Quantifiable outcome

• Food waste reduced to 6,893 tons in FY2023 from 8,240 tons in FY2021 (16% reduction)
• +2 more outcomes

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability1 record

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Plantex Co., Ltd. (株式会社プランテックス)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlantex collaborated with U.S.M.H on the Green Growers private brand, co-developing hydroponic lettuce production at the proprietary plant factory 'THE TERRABASE土浦'. The facility uses scientific technology to create optimal growing conditions for high-nutrition, high-freshness lettuce.
• BEYOND MEAT, INC.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerU.S.M.H sources BEYOND MEAT's plant-based products (BEYOND BEEF) for sale under the Green Growers private brand. Products include burgers and prepared foods (curry, bolognese) marketed as sustainable meat alternatives.
• Orbis Co., Ltd. (オルビス株式会社)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrbis co-developed the Green Growers 'Inner Color Deli' frozen prepared food product line with U.S.M.H, launched in October 2023. Products feature vegetable-rich ingredients with colorful presentation targeting health-conscious consumers.
• Fujitsu Limited (富士通株式会社)coreTechnology or IntegrationFujitsu co-developed the U.S.M.H official mobile application and its backend system with U.S.M.H. The app was piloted at Kasumi Tsukuba University store in June 2019 and rolled out to customers in October 2019, featuring store services and shopping functionality.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Okuwa Co., Ltd. Japanese food supermarket chain with primary presence in the Tokai and Kansai regions. Comparable as a regional supermarket operator of similar size and format mix, though operating in different geographies than U.S.M.H.
• Izumi Co., Ltd. Japanese supermarket and mall operator with strong presence in western Japan (Kyushu and Chugoku). Comparable as a publicly listed regional supermarket holding-company with private brand offerings, though it does not directly compete in U.S.M.H's Kanto territory.
• Heiwado Co., Ltd. Japanese supermarket chain with strong position in the Kansai and Chubu regions. Comparable as a regional supermarket operator with food-focused formats and a similar target customer base, though concentrated outside Kanto.

Others

• Rakuten Group (Rakuten Seika / Rakuten Supermarket): Major Japanese e-commerce and fintech group with growing online grocery operations. Comparable as a digital channel competitor to U.S.M.H's ignica online delivery service and a key threat to traditional supermarket traffic from younger and convenience-oriented consumers.

Direct peers

• Life Corporation: Japanese food supermarket chain with dense coverage in the Kansai and Kanto regions. Directly comparable as a regional supermarket operator targeting similar household grocery customers, with private brand programs and an expanding small-format strategy.
• Summit Inc. Tokyo-area supermarket chain operating food-focused stores with strong presence in the capital region. Closely comparable to U.S.M.H's Maruetsu and Kasumi banners given overlapping Tokyo and Kanagawa geography and similar mid-format positioning.
• York Benimaru: Food supermarket subsidiary of Seven & i Holdings operating primarily in the Kanto and Tohoku regions. Comparable to U.S.M.H on regional supermarket competition, private brand development, and digital initiatives including mobile app and Scan&Go-style self-checkout.

Broad incumbents

• AEON Co., Ltd. Parent company and Japan's largest retail group, operating supermarkets, GMS, and convenience stores nationwide. Directly comparable as the parent that holds U.S.M.H and operates AEON Food Style; competes with USMH in overlapping Kanto markets while also setting group-wide strategy.
• Seven & i Holdings (Ito-Yokado): Major Japanese retail conglomerate operating Ito-Yokado supermarkets and York Benimaru food supermarkets. Comparable as a multi-format retailer with supermarket operations that directly overlap with U.S.M.H's Kanto footprint and compete for the same household grocery basket.

Emerging players

• Trial Holdings: Japanese discount food supermarket chain with strong technology focus, including IoT-equipped smart stores and a growing private label program. Comparable as an emerging competitor applying digital and data strategies to traditional supermarket formats, particularly relevant given U.S.M.H's ignica and AI robot initiatives.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/eatimefromUSMH
• Instagraminstagram.com/eatime_official
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/united-super-markets-holdings-inc

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about United Super Markets